Chris Wedge

11 Last checked 23 June 2020

Chris joined the Department of Chemical Sciences in October 2016 as a Senior Lecturer in Physical Chemistry. He is currently module leader for the Physics program taught to foundation year students, lectures on Molecular Spectroscopy and Surface Science to final year Physical Chemistry students and teaches postgraduate Analytical Chemistry modules along with a number of distance learning modules taken by MChem students during their sandwich year. His lab is equipped with a JEOL X-band EPR magnet, Magritek Spinsolve Carbon benchtop NMR and a high powered laser source for optically enhanced magnetic resonance experiments. Recent redevelopments in the lab have seen a second EPR magnet added dedicated to Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) studies in combination with a Bruker NMR console, and as part of a commitment to environmental sustainability a new chiller unit is being installed to reduce water consumption by providing a recirculating chilled water supply to both magnets.

Prior to moving to Huddersfield Chris was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Warwick, where from April 2013 he was the Taught Course Leader of the Integrated Magnetic Resonance Centre for Doctoral Training. The EPSRC funded iMR CDT provides research-led training in all aspects of magnetic resonance to PhD students at 6 UK universities with different specialisms in magnetic resonance. Chris was responsible for organising annual residential training workshops and research conferences for the students, alongside much of the day-to-day running of the CDT. During his time as iMR CDT taught course leader Chris gained FHEA (Fellow the the Higher Education Academy) status, and he is particularly interested in the evidence base for recent changes in UK doctoral education. He is also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) and contributes to a number of committees including as websmaster of the RSC ESR Spectroscopy Group, as interest group representative on the North-East Regional Steering Group and as a member of the Huddersfield Local Section committee.

Chris read Chemistry at Christ Church (University of Oxford) and completed a doctorate in the group of Prof. Christiane Timmel on the effect of radiofrequency magnetic fields on radical pair recombination reactions. He spent two years as a post-doctoral research assistant in the Clarendon Laboratory (Department of Physics) investigating molecular magnet systems whose electron-spin can code information for use in quantum information processing (QIP). In collaboration with colleagues at the University of Manchester, and using the facilities of Oxford’s interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Electron Spin Resonance (CÆSR) based in the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, the team showed that the relaxation times of critical importance for QIP can be significantly improved by optimizing the molecular magnet’s chemical structure. Chris also spent time as a PDRA in Oxford’s Chemistry Department where he worked with Prof. P.J. Hore on a project using both optical spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance to test in vitro the hypothesis that birds rely on radical pair reactions in the retina to detect the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field as a compass during migration. Between 2010 and 2013 Chris was a Stipendiary Lecturer in Physical Chemistry at St Hilda's College, Oxford.

• Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)
• Spin Hyperpolarization
• Spin Chemistry / Magnetic Field Effects

Two fully funded EPSRC PhD studentship available as part of the materials DTP. Application deadline 28th February 2020. Please contact Chris to discuss the projects informally. For project details look at the bottom of the main DTP page for the short titles "Crystal morphology effects" and "Electron transfer" or follow the direct links below:

Crystal morphology effects on radical degradation pathways in irradiation sterilized pharmaceutical excipients

Electron transfer in hydrogen bonded metal-organic materials

Click Here to see other postgraduate research opportunities with Dr Chris Wedge